Be it known that I, ALFRED E. ARCHAM- ing had to the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification.

Mv invention relates t0 boots and shoes,"

and chas for its object the provision of an improved construction of such articles whereby to adapt them more conveniently to the needs of the user, and also whereby to adapt them for hard service and usage.

M v invention herein is an improvement.

over the structure disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,250,910, dated December Q5, 1917. i

In my said patent I show a rubber boot so arranged that the forward portion of the boot or shoe from a point slightly below the instep to the top of the upper is of thinned material so that it may yield as the foot 1s introduced into vthe boot or shoe.

In my present application, I provide a boot or shoe structure-in which the vamp portion is made of comlnu'atively thick rub her throughout. and from which a thinned tongue extends upwardly from the forward portion thereof. The upper of the boot or shoe is made of any suitable fabric, such as duck, leather, or the like, and this is suitably united to the upper edge of the vamp portion and the sid(l edges of thel tongue.

I will describe one specific form of hoot or shoe structure constructed in accordance with my invention by referring to the accompanying drawing illustrating such form,

shown, or they may be cemented together, which serves the same purpose. The material of the vamp portion is thinned out over the instep at the portion indicated by the-numeral 12, thus to provide a resilient structure to permit the easy entry of the foot. This thinned out portion is preferably carried 'below the usual meeting line between vamp and upperi Thevamp portion has integral with it a tongue 13 of thinned yielding material either by being made in one piecel or by being' properly cementedl or united thereto. The vamp 10, sole 11 and tongue 13 are made of rubber. Suitable reinforcing or strengthening ridges 1-1 may be provided on the front portion of the vamp, if desired. The upper 15 is united to the vamp portion at its upper edge along the line 16 and is also united to the side edge of the tongue 13. In order to properly unite theA upper to the vamp, I provide two strips ofv material, respectively the strips 17 and 18, which are cemented to the upper edge of the rubber .forming the vamp, thus to make a secure union, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. The upper 15 is then sewed to of the strips 17 and 18.,

In order t0 properly reinforce the edges of the thinned rubber tongue 13 and to provide a suitable connection between the upper 15 and said tongue, I likewise provide strips 19 and 9.0, .similar to the strips 17 and 18, which strips 19 and 2O are cemented to the side edges of the tongue 13. The upper 15 is then sewed directly to the free protruding extremities of the strips 19 and 20, leaving protruding strips 21 and 22 of sufficient length to accommodate eyelets' 23 which are 'used for lacing purposes. A suitable finishing strip or reinforcing strip 24: is cemented or sewed or otherwise suitably secured to the top edge of the thin rubber tongue 13. The thin rubber tongue which provides the yielding element not only throughout the length of the lippen but also throughout aportion of the vamp up to the line 12, as shown, is thus suitably reinforced throughout its entire length at its edges so that it can stand the necessary wear and tear.

l The object of the structure thus outlined Will readily appear when it is seen that a yielding strip running from substantially lthe free upwardly protruding extremities h the top of the upper all the. Way down below a point which usually constitutes the vof sai meeting point between the upper and the vamp is provided for the accommodation of the wearer during insertion or withdrawal of the foot.

From what has been thus described the nature of my invention will 'be readily understood.

What I claim as my inventionpis:

l. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a vamp portion and an upper portion, .the vamp portion being made of rubber of a given thickness and having a yielding rubber tongue extending upwardly from the forward portion thereof and strips cemented to the tongue and secured to said upper portion, said rubber tongue being or less thickness than the vamp portion, and said upper portion consisting of substan# tially'non-elastic material outside of said vamp andunited to said vamp and tongue.

2. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a vamp (portion and an upper portion outside vamp portion, the vamp portion being made of rubber of a given thickness and havinga yielding rubber tongue extending upwardly from the forward portion thereof, said rubber tongue being of less thickness than the vamp portion, and said upper portion consisting of substantially non-elastic material united to said vamp and tongue,

and a substantially non-elastic strip ce-v mented to said vamp portion to which said upper is secured.

3. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a vamp portion and an upper portion, the vamp portion being made .of rubber of a Ygiven thickness and having a yielding rubber tongue extending upwardly from the forward portion thereof, said rubber tongue being of less thickness than the vamp portion, and said upper portion consisting of substantially' non-elastic material united to Asaid vamp and tongue, and strengthening strips of substantially non-elasticmaterial cemented to the side edges of said tongue to which said upper is secured.

4; In a boot or shoe, the combination ofa vamp portion and an upper. portion, the

' vamp portion being made of rubber of a given thickness and having a 'yielding rub-v bertongue extending upwardly from the forward portion thereof, said rubber tongue being of less thickness thanthe 'vamp portion, and said upper portion consisting of substantially non-elastic material united to said vamp and tongue, and strengthening ystrips of substantially non-elastic material cemented to the side edgesof said tongue to which said upper is secured, and a substantially non-elastic strip cemented to said vamp portion to which said upper is secured.

5. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a vamp Yportion and an upper portion, the. vamp `portion being made of rubber of a given thickness and having a yielding rub ber tongue extending upwardly from the forward portion thereof, said rubber tongue being of less thickness than the vamp portion, said upper portion consisting of substantially non-elastic material united to said vamp and tongue, andstrengthening strips of substantially non-elastic material cemented to the side edges of said tongue to which said upper is secured, and eyelets provided in the protruding portion of the strip and upper at the side edges of said tongue.

6. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a vamp portion and an upper portion, the vamp portion being made of rubber of a given thickness and having a yielding rubber tongue 'extending upwardly from the. forward portion thereof, said rubber tongue being of less thickness than the vamp portion, said upper portion consisting of substantially non-elastic material united to said vamp and tongue, strengthening strips of substantially non-elastic material cemented to the side edges of said tongue'to which said upper is secured, and a substantially non-elastic strip cemented to said vamp portion to which said upper is secured, and eyelets provided in the protruding portion of the strip and upper at the side edges of said tongue.

7. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a vamp, a tongue integral with said vamp, an upper and strips cemented to said vamp and tongue, said strips being sewed to said upper.

S. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a vamp, an upper outside of said vamp and a strip cemented to'said vamp and sewed' to said upper.

9. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a vamp, an upper and a strip cemented to said vamp and 4sewed to said upper, said strip being inside said upper.

10. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a vamp, a tongue integral therewith, an upper and strips cemented to said tongue and secured to said upper.

1.1. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a vamp, a yielding rubber tongue. extending upwardly from said vamp, an upper, and